ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Switch Box Removal

I'm an Industrial Electrician. Don't do much Residential. Is there an easy way to get a plastic 2 gang switch box out of an insulated wall? I didn't wanna leave it in the wall cavity. 2 nails holding it in. I replaced it with a 3 gang. Thanks in advance.

Take a hack saw blade with tape as a handle, and cut thru the nails along the stud.They're usually pretty soft steel. Turn the box on its back and slip it out sideways.

TRACE THE 2 GANG OUT, CUT THE OPENING, THEN PUT A SCREW DRIVER BETWEEN THE STUD AND THE BOX AND PRY IT OFF. THEN WHAT I DO IS CUT THE NAILS WITH MY DYKES. EASY CHEESY

Hi Duane,
Welcome to ECN!.
Personally, I screw the boxes to the studs,
for this very reason.
Makes later removal, where this is required, much easier.

Trumpy, if use screws inside a NM box the screws must be grounded.

My method for box removal is: Shove the sawzall blade between the box & stud, cut the nails and pull the box straight out.

The new box going in gets screws as Trumpy described.

Rob

[This message has been edited by sierra electrician (edited 03-27-2005).]

I'm with Rob on this! Just remember to put a 16 - 24tpi blade on. A demo blade with 4 - 8 tpi will pull that sawsall right into the wall when it catches the nail.

A hammer works well to, if you're not concerned with the finish.

An my personal favorite for 3 gang or larger is a metalic masonary box. (Why pay less!) And lots of room too. You can park your truck in there, and the only thing a Graffic Eye dimmer will fit in.